This month long intensive class is what happens when you take History class, an English class and squish them together with a really fun adventure book! Throughout the course, we will read ‘The Lightning Thief’ (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book 1) by Rick Riordan and interact with the story’s characters and plot development. 

Each week we will be learning about the Greek gods and mythological characters described in the passage. We will also be focusing in on the vocabulary, grammar and narrative prose, using snippets from the book to help students learn how to be better readers and writers.  In the process, we will be having some Camp Half-blood style fun and students will gain knowledge and challenge themselves as they strive to get experience points and battle it out in a test of wits!

This class will be designed in a very interactive video game style. Students will be assessed on XP or experience points. As their XP grows, they will level up at the training facility. Students will gain XP through class participation, assignments, answering questions, helping others and pop quiz style “battles” where they will go head to head to test their knowledge. 

Class 1***Introduction*** : Greek Society vs. Modern Society
Class 2 - Chapters 1 & 2 : Vaporizing Teachers and Ladies Who Knit
Class 3 - Chapters 3 & 4 : Losing Pants and the Bullfight 
Class 4 - Chapters 5 & 6 : Learn to Play Pinocle and becoming the Supreme Lord
Class 5 - Chapters 7 & 8 : When Your Dinner Goes up in Smoke Just Play Capture the Flag
Class 6 - Chapters 9 & 10 : Of Questing and Buses
Class 7 - Chapters 11 & 12 : Garden Gnomes and Poodles
Class 8 - Chapters 13 & 14 : Dying to Become a Fugitive
Class 9 - Chapters 15 & 16 : Cheeseburgers and Vegas
Class 10 - Chapters 17 & 18 : Shopping and Obedience School
Class 11 - Chapters 19 & 20 : The Truth and Jerk Relatives
Class 12 - Chapters 20 & 21 : Tabs and Prophesies **Final Review**

I think that excitement about learning is contagious, and that students can learn as much from each other as they can the teacher. Every class, students will be given opportunities to form "adventure parties" to solve problems, battle monsters and gain achievements in class. Outside of class, students will be expected to read 6 chapters each week in order to be prepared for that day’s activities and discussion. Other additional activities that students can do outside of class to supplement their learning and grow their knowledge will be optional, but will be rewarded. With the gaming model, self-directed learning outside of class is optional, but fun. Moreover it taps into children's competitive nature which propels them to learn far beyond mandated tasks.